Pullman, WA Tornado History — 8 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Pullman, WA had?
Pullman has had 8 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Pullman?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Pullman was a F0 on May 31, 1997.
When is tornado season in Pullman?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Pullman, with 4 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Have any tornadoes near Pullman been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Pullman from any of the 8 tornadoes since 1950. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Pullman
About Tornadoes in Pullman
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Pullman, Washington, experiences tornadoes far less frequently than communities in the central and southeastern United States, but the phenomenon is not entirely absent from the region. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, eight tornadoes have been documented within 25 miles of the city since record-keeping began in 1950. All of these events were relatively weak, with four rated EF0, three rated EF1, and one rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which classifies tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and resulting damage.
Tornado activity near Pullman peaked during the 1990s, when three tornadoes were recorded, following two events each in the 1970s and 1980s, and one in the 1960s. May has been the most active month historically, accounting for four of the eight documented tornadoes. This seasonal pattern aligns with broader meteorological trends across the Pacific Northwest, where springtime systems occasionally produce the atmospheric instability necessary for tornadic development, though such conditions remain uncommon compared to regions farther east.
The most significant tornado on record occurred on May 20, 1986, when an F1-rated tornado carved a two-mile path with a maximum width of 40 yards, causing $27,500 in property damage. This event holds the distinction of being simultaneously the costliest, widest, and longest-track tornado documented near Pullman. The most recent tornado struck on May 31, 1997, rated F0 with a brief 0.1-mile path and a maximum width of 23 yards, producing no damage.
Notably, none of the tornadoes recorded within 25 miles of Pullman have resulted in fatalities. The relatively low frequency and intensity of these events reflect the region's geographic and climatic characteristics, which generally do not favor the development of severe convective storms capable of producing strong tornadoes. While residents should remain aware of severe weather potential during spring months, the historical record indicates that tornado risk in the Pullman area remains considerably lower than in many other parts of the country.